Checking in: Mental wellness and the music educator

Abstract

Given the rise in awareness of the mental health crisis, we set out to determine a baseline for mental wellness among current music educators. In a nationwide survey, music educators ( N = 695) responded to a series of questions focused on mental wellness, stress, and personality. Music educators shared that they struggle with mental wellness at a higher rate than the general population while data revealed personality traits we would expect in music educators from the literature. Participants represented a broad sample of music educators, comprising practitioners who indicated an average of 16.34 years of experience while remaining busy with requirements of the profession outside of the classroom. They also indicated higher than normal stress levels ( M = 19.09 with a normed range of 12–14.7). Music educators’ responses indicated qualities of anxiety and depression at higher rates as compared with the national averages as well. We share insights into how these data fit with previous studies, possible approaches to establishing effective coping strategies, and potential next steps for our profession.